In a paper consisting of five pages the elements and narrative Hammon employed in his text are discussed especially as they go against the conventional norms of the time period. Three sources are cited in the bibliography.
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society believed to have existed at that time. Hammon, a slave, was released by his Master to serve at sea. Throughout the narrative, Hammon relates his treatment and his impression
of others as if he is a British citizen and this is reflected in his story. Although it appeared he wished to go to sea at the beginning, his final
passages express his relief and gratitude for being returned to his Master and his "Native" land, America. Hammons story breaks with the status quo and the impressions of the time
in that not only was he the first African American prose writer, he also considered himself properly treated by his Master, felt an alliance with Britain and America, was desired
and sought after by the Indians and the Governor of Havana and received full wages for his work on the ships while serving Britain.
In 1747, Briton Hammon, a slave in Massachusetts, made an agreement with his owner that in exchange for him going to sea, he would remit his pay to him.
In 1760, Briton Hammons "Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings, and Surprizing Deliverance of Briton Hammon, a Negro Man, Servant to General Winslow, of Marshfield, in New England: Who Returned to
Boston, After Having Been Absent Almost Thirteen Years" was published and Hammon was considered not only the earliest known African American prose writer but also the narrator of the first
account of a sea voyage by an African American (Phillips, 1997; Hammon, 1760). The narrative became all that was known of Hammon which was advertised in the Boston Evening-Post
in the July issues of the 7th, 14, 21st and 28th of 1760 (Carretta, 1996; Hammon, 1760). Hammons narrative was not only considered to be ground breaking in that it